Saturday Sermon: God works through all types of people

By Daniel Fultz
May 24, 2013 at 12:24 a.m.

One pretty day in early fall a few years ago, I had a meeting to attend in Corpus Christi.

I enjoy riding my motorcycle, so whenever possible, I ride my old bike. It was just cool enough that I wore a black leather motorcycle jacket and a scarf over my face to keep the bugs and the cool air out. I'm sure I looked quite the sight in my old jeans and boots, jacket, scarf, helmet and sunglasses.

I was running late as usual. As I hurried out of town on U.S. Highway 59, I hadn't even reached the U.S. Highway 77 cutoff when I saw a car stopped on the side of the road. There was a lady standing beside her car with a flat tire. As I rode past, she looked at me, and I could see a call for help in her eyes. I wanted to hurry on to my meeting, but I just couldn't. I went back to help.

The lady couldn't speak English, but it was obvious she needed me to change her tire. It was a small car, and the tire was easy to change. As I was down on my knees putting the new wheel, on another car pulled up.

The driver got out and walked toward us. He was a young, Hispanic man wearing a white tank top (what some people call a "wife beater") and had tattoos all over his arms. He asked if he could help, but I told him I was just about finished. He went back and started talking to the lady.

After a few minutes, he walked back to me and said that the lady told him that she had been standing by the road for some time praying. She had prayed that God would send an angel. Then the young man laughed and said incredulously, "And God sent us."

I didn't tell that young man that I was a pastor, and as far as I know he could have been a pastor, too. Still, neither of us looked much like what most would call angels. Except for the lady stuck by the side of the road - I think we might have looked like angels to her.

I think of this encounter often and how our appearance has little to do with what God can do with us. God is doing all kinds of wonderful things in the world right now through all kinds of people. There is no limit to what God can do in the world or what God can do through you.

This kind of goes both ways, I think. God can use me, who I am, where I am, just as I am. And God can use the other person I meet, who they are, where they are, just as they are. Who knows? They may be the person God is sending to me. And I may be the person that God is sending to them. Either way, it is a blessing.